I think Clint Eastwood is one of the greatest film directors of his generation. “Unforgiven” is not only his masterpiece, it is, more importantly, one of my top ten favourite films of all time (and he starred in one of the others). So watching his notorious “Empty Chair” interview with Barack Obama was a particularly unsettling experience for me even though his weird brand of right-wing libertarian politics was already familiar. However, nothing he could say or do would ever diminish for me the level of his cinematic achievement. In other words: his politics doesn’t really concern me when it comes to his art. Likewise, Sam Raimi, James Woods and, from the world of music, Alice Cooper, whose shows remain one of the best-value tickets you’ll ever purchase. Neil Young, of course, came out for Reagan but then I think a lot of Democrats did and that never impinged on my admiration for him. As for arch-libertarian, Frank Zappa (for whose music my admiration knows no bounds), he could have come out as a Nazi and I could have tolerated that for a burst of “G-Spot Tornado” and chorus of “My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama”.

And arguably my favourite writer, Patrick O’Brian was a staunch supporter of the UK Conservative Party and numbered some of Margaret Thatcher’s ministers amongst his friends and that has not diminished in any way for me, the power of his work.

This isn’t true for everyone, however. Kelsey Grammer’s political views have utterly ruined for me the great writing that “Frazier” offered and I’m still smarting over the fact that in spite of my vociferous support for her work over the years (against, I might add, legions of naysayers) Tracy Emin came out as a Tory.

But isn’t it gratifying when artists in all endeavours (and whose work one despises) turns out to be of an opposing political persuasion? Frederick Forsyth is one who springs to mind for me, along with the execrable Gary Barlow and the unutterably dire, Julian Fellowes.

By now, I fully expect to have lost a number of readers: and this is precisely my point. For there will be many for whom my observations will represent a crossing of the line. For them (for you?), the people I mention may well have had their reputations enhanced by the fact that they are of the Right and you will feel nothing but contempt for some of the more left-leaning practitioners of the arts.

But will you admit it? And should I?

The other day, I found myself becoming angrier and angrier at some of the things I was reading in the press and I became aware that this was causing me to post more and more left-leaning links on Facebook and in other forums. Not only this, I found myself getting involved in discussions and arguments with people who, frankly, were unlikely to be swayed by any of my arguments. All I seemed to be doing was alienating a constituency who might hitherto have been prepared to give my work a try. Hence this little article.

There are many artists, writers and performers whose political allegiances (if they exist at all), they prefer to keep to themselves. As a result, they can appeal to those of whatever persuasion and are never in fear of losing readers/listeners/viewers because of politics. Should that be the stance of all artists?

I think not. A writer’s work is always going to be influenced by politics, even if they are apolitical. Their thoughts on the mores of their time are always going to filter through their work. My own books do demonstrate something of a left-leaning tendency, even if only in passing and reflect I hope, a socially liberal view of the world, in which the pompous are pricked; the wicked, punished; the innocent, occasionally victimised; and the powerful, brought low.

And if you’re wondering how a hit-man can have a social conscience, then I invite you to read “The Rothko Room” and find out. (See what I did there?)

As for my own dilemma: well, I believe that we must be true to ourselves and that those who come out one any side of the political argument should be respected for doing so. For some of us, it is a vital part of who we are and if our readers can get over that, then that would be one more affirmation that our work was valued for what it is rather than for who created it.

As a writer, my heart is almost always on my sleeve so I only ever have myself to blame if people turn away in horror.

As a consumer, I see two issues. First, whether you judge the "art" by the message - political or otherwise - and second, whether you judge the "art" by the character of the creator. The Forgiven? Ender's Game? Gary Glitter? Et cetera.

I'm all about the first, which is why I find it so hard to find thrillers I actually like, but I seem to operate a sliding scale of morality on the second. For example, I will never buy another of Orson Scott Card's books but I'm in no hurry to throw out the ones I already have. I would never play Gary Glitter to my children but I still quite enjoy that big guitar sound. I never heard of the Lostprophets before the appalling scandal but I loathe Bill Wyman, love Jimmy Page, and generally admire David Bowie.

I often think about this - Emin is the main cause of my angst - I just adore her as an artist but find it very hard to forgive her politics. I wear my politics on my sleeve - my campaigning means more to me on many issues than my writing, and if people want to ditch my words as a result, fair play to them, I will be happily divested of their eyeballs.

Reply

Reggie

3/1/2014 05:54:20 am

As you know, Russ, I'm unashamedly centre right when it comes to politics. I'm not a nationalist, but I am a patriot and I love Britain and being British.
HOWEVER, I have oodles of mates who are left wing,communist, anarchist or even vegan-anarcho-Hinduists... and that affects me not a jot, for politics and religion should not define a relationship.
The same goes for music. I despise Billy Bragg, but that's nothing to do with his lyrics, it's more to do with his durge-dire music that couldn't raise a tapping foot if it was spring loaded.
Pearl Jam, totally Democratic, and totally up there in my list of all time fave bands.
Music, writing, art are such personal passions that I think that if someone actually lstates they like an artist just for his politico/religious persuasions, he probably doesn't actually, really and truly like the artist?
Does that make sense?

This was timely. In the middle of the night last night - when I think most clearly - I realised I would have to delete a fair portion of yesterday's work on my book. It had too much to do with my politics, and not enough to do with the story.
Outside of my books? Well, I've always been discreet about who I am, though less so about what I think.